MINNESOTA COMMUNITY EXCHANGE
Minnesota Community Exchange is an online platform for resource sharing, to provide a one-stop guide to programs, methods, resources and organizations that can help, and a tool to help communities share ideas, best practices, and advice between other communities.
Roster of Online Resources
This is just a smattering of the thousands of sources of technical assistance, funding, and information that may be helpful to you and your community. Please let us know about other websites that you have found helpful – send them to info@minnesotaruralpartners.org and we’ll add them to this roster of resources.
Center for Small Towns: The Center for Small Towns is a community outreach program housed at the University of Minnesota, Morris (UMM) and serves as a point-of-entry to the resources of the University of Minnesota. Small towns, local units of government, K-12 schools, non-profit organizations, and other University units are able to utilize the Center's resources as they work on rural issues or make contributions to rural society. http://www.centerforsmalltowns.org
Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers: MCCD is an association of nonprofit community development organizations in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area committed to expanding the wealth and resources of neighborhoods through housing and economic development initiatives. Member organizations vary in their approach to community development. Some focus mainly on developing high quality affordable housing for low and moderate-income individuals and families in the Twin Cities. Others promote entrepreneurship and small business development. Still others take a comprehensive approach by linking housing, employment and neighborhood revitalization. All seek to direct economic and social resources towards underserved communities. A core function of MCCD is to manage a micro-loan program designed to improve capital access for new and growing neighborhood-based businesses. http://www.mccdmn.org
The Minnesota Extension Service: University of Minnesota research and on-the-ground technical assistance in these areas: communities, the environment, families, food and agriculture, and youth development. http://www.extension.umn.edu
MinnesotaHelp.info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help. It is especially rich in resource information for seniors and their caregivers; people with disabilities and their caregivers; parents and families; and low income people. http://www.minnesotahelp.org
The Minnesota Initiative Foundations: Independent, nonprofit philanthropic organizations created by The McKnight Foundation in 1986—work to make the six regions outside the metropolitan area stronger and more prosperous. Each foundation's priorities are decided by people in its own region, with grants and loans supporting economic development, leadership development, community building, and families, youth, and seniors. http://www.mcknight.org/greatermn/index.aspx
Minnesota North Star: State Government resources directory – gets you to all state agency websites. http://www.state.mn.us
Minnesota Regional Development Organizations: Regional development organizations are multi-county planning and development districts that encourage cooperation between citizens, local government officials, and the private sector. Initially created in the 1960's, they have grown in number to over 300 and are located throughout the United States. These regional organizations are best equipped to help rural areas because they provide a critical mass of expertise needed at the local level. http://www.mrdo.org
Minnesota Sustainable Communities Network (MnSCN): information, access to resources, opportunities for networking, and inspiration on the topic of sustainable communities. NextStep site users have the ability to post information and resources on the site as well as to access the resources and information posted on the site.http://www.nextstep.state.mn.us/
Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships: Citizen-driven University partnerships fostering sustainable development for regional resilience. http://www.regionalpartnerships.umn.edu